First up is the Bandai showcase, with an upcoming 1:4 scale R2-D2. It appears to be pre-made for lighting. To the right is the motorized AT-AT that Bandai has not yet decided to release. I'd rather not have a motorized one. If you look inside the viewport, you don't see an accurate cockpit, but just a bunch of moving parts. Accuracy is often sacrificed for the sake of motorizing parts.

We now have the box art for the upcoming 1:12 Biker Scout + Speeder Bike kit.

Soon to be released are the 1:48 Snowspeeder and 1:72 Y-Wing. I already own three Fine Molds Y-Wing kits, so I'm curious how this Bandai one will compare.

Right away, one cool difference for the Y-Wing kit is that it will have a pilot dressed in the traditional orange flight suit, as well as the pilot from ROTJ. That alone is pretty darn cool.

Here's a diorama that was featured in hobby magazines here in Japan. Dengeki Hobby, I believe.

This diorama is by Dorobou Hige.

Yeah, that's right; it's a 1:12 scale TIE X1 Advanced up there, complete with a 1:12 scale Vader piloting it. I'm sure that this was made as just an attention grabber and never intended to become a real kit.

OK, so here we're getting into Gundam territory. Here are the newly-styled SD Gundams. I'm not big on the SD aesthetic, but I must say that I like the detail on these.

Here is Bandai's re-launch of a new HG model series.

OK, so here is Bandai's Yamato 2199 display. Unfortunately, the Yamato release schedule has quieted down. I did talk with a Bandai rep about how the releases have tapered off. He said that it's gotten quiet because there will be more 2199 anime coming in the future, including the Andromeda. I took this to mean that the second series of Yamato will be remade into a 2199 version. I did beg him for a 1:72 Gamilus starfighter and a Cosmo Seagull. If anything, at least a Mekakore Seagull. He said he would take note of my request. Let's just cross our fingers.

So in the recent 2199 Ark of the Stars movie, we saw the Yamato crew teaming up with Gamilans to fight against the Gatlantians. Let's hope that there's more of this in the new series (I'm hoping it'll be a series and not just a movie). Maybe this will give an excuse for more 1:72 scale models.

On the right is the Carrier-Based Spacecraft Set. This is a collection of the smaller, Mecha Collection-sized spacecraft that have been included in the Gamilus fleet sets. Fortunately, it will contain waterslide decals instead of stickers! Unfortunately for everyone outside of Japan, it will be released exclusively through the Premium Bandai site.

OK, so now we're moving on to the Tamiya booth, where the big buzz is about their huge, intricately-detailed DeHavilland Mosquito.

Left:

Left:

I recently introduced my daughter to Tamiya's Sweets Decoration Series and bought some for her birthday recently.

Right: OK, so now this is at the Platz booth.

Right: Here is the Mobius model kit of the Ranger ship from the movie Interstellar.

Left: I'm interested in seeing the final product of this SD Colonial Viper from Battlestar Galactica by Mobius. Right: Now we're at the Hasegawa display.